Criterion A: Observation and report
4 marks- The observation is specific and situated in context.
- Description is separated from interpretation.
- The report is both organized and detailed.
IB Social and Cultural Anthropology Grader
Grade your Social and Cultural Anthropology before you submit. Upload your draft and get a mark for each criterion, comments tied to your sentences, and a list of what to fix first.
5 free gradings a month. No card. Private to you.
- of marks within one grade of the IB's final mark
- 92%
- marking score. ChatGPT 65, Claude 61, Gemini 57
- 74/100
- real IAs and TOK essays tested against the mark the IB gave
- 1,317
- Marks
- 26 at SL, 33 at HL
- SL task
- Your own fieldwork, 2,000 words in four parts
- HL task
- 800 words on your planned research, then a 1,600-word report
- Biggest criterion
- D, worth 12 at SL and HL
See the mark, and the sentences behind it
Check the quality of your method, analysis, evaluation, communication and subject-specific reasoning. Find the weakest parts of the draft and see what to change first.
What Marksy checks for each Social and Cultural Anthropology criterion
You get a mark for each IB assessment criterion below. The points under each one are what Marksy looks for in your draft. See the mark bands
Criterion B: Methodological and conceptual extension of initial fieldwork
6 marks- The second method follows logically from the first observation.
- Its link to a key or inquiry-specific concept is explicit.
- The choice is justified, not just stated.
Criterion C: Second fieldwork data collection and analysis
4 marks- The data selected is relevant to the inquiry.
- Analysis uses the key or inquiry-specific concept.
- Irrelevant or inconsistent data does not weaken the analysis.
Criterion D: Critical reflection of fieldwork research, methods and concepts/area of inquiry
12 marks- The first observation and second method are compared and evaluated.
- Your position as researcher and its effect on results are discussed.
- You explain what you learned about doing anthropology.
Criterion A: Anthropological nature of the research
4 marks- The area of inquiry and research question are both identified.
- The link between them is explained in detail.
- Key or inquiry-specific concepts are relevant and used appropriately.
Criterion B: Appropriateness and justification of methods
4 marks- Two methods fit the research question.
- Choices are justified with reference to relevant literature.
- Feedback from the panel discussion is taken into account.
Criterion C: Awareness of ethical considerations
4 marks- Consent, privacy, risk, and representation are addressed where relevant.
- Each issue is tied to your actual fieldwork.
- You explain why each issue matters.
Criterion D: Critical thinking
12 marksUse concepts or theory to interpret fieldwork evidence and develop a supported answer.
Criterion E: Evaluation of fieldwork process (doing anthropology)
9 marks- Methodological strengths and weaknesses are evaluated.
- Your role as researcher (reflexivity) is examined.
- Ethical issues are evaluated for this specific research.
Where Social and Cultural Anthropologys usually lose marks
Marksy flags these in your draft and links each one to the sentences it is about.
- SL: Opinions mixed into your observationWrite what you saw and heard first: where, when, who, and your own place in the setting. Save what you think it means for later.Criterion A
- SL: A second method with no reasonSay what in your observation made you choose an interview, a survey or another method, and which key concept it lets you explore further.Criterion B
- SL: Reflection that only retells the fieldworkCriterion D carries 12 of the 26 marks. Compare what each method showed, discuss how your age, background or role shaped the data, and say what you learned about doing anthropology.Criterion D
- HL: Methods with no literature or panel feedbackJustify both methods against your research question, refer to relevant anthropological writing, and say what feedback from your panel discussion changed.Criterion B
- HL: Data with no concept or theoryReporting what people said isn't analysis. Use a concept from your area of inquiry, or a theory, to explain the data, then build an argument towards your conclusion.Criterion D
- HL: Your own role left outCriterion E asks how your position as researcher shaped what you found, and how well your methods and ethical choices worked once you were in the field.Criterion E
Before you upload
- Choose SL or HL when you upload. The criteria and totals are different.
- Keep each part under its own heading, so its word limit is easy to check.
- Put the data you analyse, such as interview quotes, in the report itself.
- Use pseudonyms for the people you studied.
Your draft stays at the centre
Marksy reads the work you upload, points each comment back to your writing, and puts the most important changes first.
Can you show a clear anthropological question, method, and reflection trail from start to finish?Read Social and Cultural Anthropology IA Planning Guide
- 1
Upload your draft
A PDF of your Social and Cultural Anthropology, finished or not. Every comment stays connected to your own writing.
- 2
Read the comments
Highlights show which passage each comment is about.
- 3
Fix the important parts first
Work down a short list instead of making scattered edits.
- 4
Keep the final say
Accept, adapt or ignore each suggestion. You stay the author.
What students wrote afterwards
From Trustpilot, as written.
marksyib has saved my ib diploma. thanks to it, my IA's were perfect and got the points i needed. really recommended.
Marksy ib allowed me to be able to finish my IAs much before allowing me to be able to relax better. 100% recommended
Your work stays your work
Marksy reads the draft you upload and comments on it. It doesn't rewrite your assessment, and your files are never used to train AI.
Read the safety answers- Private to youOnly you can see your work unless you choose to share it.
- Never used for trainingYour coursework is not added to any AI training data.
- Feedback, not ghostwritingUse the report to improve your own analysis and decisions.
- Delete it whenever you wantYou control the files stored in your account.
Questions before you upload
Still planning? The coursework guide covers the criteria and what to ask yourself while you write. Open the guide
Yes. SL is marked out of 26 on four criteria, built around an observation and a second research method. HL is marked out of 33 on five criteria: three for your planned research and two for the final report. Pick your level when you upload.
No. Each part has its own word limit, and Marksy marks each part within it. At SL the four parts have limits of 450, 300, 400 and 850 words. At HL the two parts have limits of 800 and 1,600 words.
Yes, at HL. Criterion B looks for how feedback from your panel discussion shaped your methods. Marksy can only see this if you write it down, so say what feedback you got and what you changed.
We tested Marksy on 1,317 real IAs and TOK essays with the mark the IB gave them. 92% of Marksy's marks landed within one grade. On a set with as many weak as strong essays, it scored 74/100 on our marking score, against 65 for ChatGPT, 61 for Claude and 57 for Gemini. Every number, and how we tested, is on the grading accuracy page.
Yes. Marksy checks your Social and Cultural Anthropology IA against the IB assessment criteria for it and returns marks, comments and fixes instead of generic essay advice.
Yes. Early drafts are useful because the report can show a weak criterion before you spend hours polishing the wrong section. You can revise and grade another version later.
A free account includes 5 gradings a month. You don't need a card.
No. Marksy reads your existing work, explains each comment, and suggests what to revise. The writing and the final decisions stay yours.
Your upload is private to your account, is not used to train AI models, and can be deleted whenever you want.
Stop guessing what to fix in your Social and Cultural Anthropology
Upload the version you have now and find the parts holding it back.